All-Stars shine in last Baseball, Softball event of the year
St. Paul’s Madison Gasca Reyes gets one of her hits during the Whittier Rotary Club High School All Star Classic at York Field in Whittier on Monday. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
SANTA FE SPRINGS – For the first time before the pandemic struck down high school sports in 2020, the Whittier Rotary Club hosted both the 25th annual softball and baseball All-Star games at York Field in Santa Fe Springs Monday (May 29) before a large, enthusiastic crowd.
The softball All-Stars started the event off with Blue versus Red, which was represented by 11 total teams and 29 players.
The Blue Team, coached by Jason Clay of La Serna, along with assistant April Zamorano, won, 9-4.
“I have all three of my kids to be part of this (Monday),” said Clay, who has is older son Blake announcing, Luke is playing, and Haley is helping to coach softball. “When I got asked to do this thing, I was really excited. If you look at our league as a whole, we have really good talent. I said, ‘Heck yeah, I want to be a part of this.’”
Coaching the Red Team was Jason Ramirez of California, along with assistants Carlos Aparicio, Raymond Gurule and Javier Macias.
The winning Blue Team MVP was Samantha Vargas of El Rancho, with three RBIs, a single and a triple.
The Red Team MVP was Madison Gasca-Reyes of St. Paul with two singles and an RBI.
“It’s bittersweet,” said Gasca-Reyes, of playing together with her four other Swordsmen teammates. “I wish I could play with them forever, but all good things come to an end.”
Gasca-Reyes will be staying home playing at Whittier College.
The Baseball All-Star game, with11 teams and 36 players, followed the softball game with a home run derby prior to the game which was won by Jake Long of La Serna with three.
The Blue Team, coached by Richard Rios of El Rancho and assistants Kevin Aguiar, Paul Montecino and Ruben Rios, defeated the Red Team, 4-1.
The Blue Team MVP was Juan Contreras of El Rancho, and the Red Team MVP was Adrian Roman, with three scoreless innings pitched.
Rotary Club second-year President Irene Muro talked of the excitement of the day by everyone involved.
“The energy, the parents, the players, it was just an amazing experience to be here,” Muro said. “Especially coming out of the pandemic and a variety of different things, this event means so much for all of the players as they culminate their high school years, it was just an amazing event.”
In the opening softball game, the Blue Team started things off with two runs in the top of the first with an inside-the-park home run by Alina Guerrero, of El Rancho sending in Sarah Perez of La Serna.
In the bottom of the second, the Red Team tied the game at 2-2 on an RBI single by Gasca-Reyes and an infield out scored Zahyra Corado (Schurr).
St. Paul pitcher Elisa Gulfin started and went the first five innings.
“It’s definitely exciting getting to play with my friends again,” said Gulfin, who will play at the University of Nebraska. “I’m excited I got the opportunity to play with my teammates one last time.
“It was exciting, and the batters gave me a good challenge. I had to work around the zone.”
Gulfin talked about her next level opportunity at Nebraska. “I’m very excited,” she said. “I can’t wait to be a DI athlete playing top level softball with the best coaching softball has to offer.”
Trailing, 6-3, in the top of the sixth, the Blue team scored a run as St. Paul’s Jules Detrinidad reached on a pop fly error to second, sending Kylee Rodriguez (Cal High) with their fourth run.
“Our season ended shorter than we wanted it to, so it’s really nice to get to play with the girls again,” said Detrinidad, who will play at St. Martins in Lacey, Washington. “I know most of them personally.
“(The All Star game) isn’t about winning or losing but putting your best show out and doing your best.”
The Blue Team ended the scoring with three more runs in the top of the seventh inning.
Perez singled in Ella Baul (El Rancho) to stretch the lead to 7-4. That was followed by two more runs on a two-run single by Julia Kearney, scoring Perez and Stephanie Amaya of El Rancho. For the 9-4 final
In baseball, the home run derby kicked things off, followed by the game.
La Mirada had a lot to do with the scoring, as Eric Jeon singled up the middle in the first inning and came home with the first run on a single by Rudy Andrade (La Habra). The second run came on a bases loaded walk to Steven Segura (El Rancho), scoring La Mirada’s Benjamin Kim for the 2-0 lead.
“It’s beautiful,” said Kim of the whole event. “The scenery, the people. We’re lucky that Rotary is able to do all of this. It’s much like appreciation for all of the seniors for all of the hard work for the past four years,
I see all of my friends on the other side of the dugout and in this dugout.
It’s special what Rotary does. It’s more like an honor to play in this game. Playing in an all-star game alone is special. Just to be able to be selected for the Rotary is great.”
In the fourth, the Red Team cut the lead in half as Long singled to right and went to second on a fielding error. He was later caught in a run down, but shortstop Nick Allred, who reached on a hit by pitch, went to second on a wild pitch and eventually scored.
The Blue Team added two more runs for the 4-1 lead as Julian Velasquez (Whittier) and Justin Cardenas (El Rancho) both scored.
Nick Allred, who was part of the La Serna team that had a run in the playoffs to the quarterfinals said, “This was awesome,” Allred will head to San Francisco State and struck out three batters in the seventh. “Just seeing all of my friends from other schools and played against them, I was just excited to be a part of it.
“This might be the only all-star game that I’ve heard of. It was great. I’m looking forward to the next step (college).”
La Mirada’s Aidan Haller pitched the bottom of the seventh and struck out three batters, surrounded by a single.
“It was cool coming out here and being able to play one last time,” he said. “Especially, against kids that you know and played with. It’s pretty surreal seeing you friend on the other team. It takes you back to our younger days.”
What they said:
Gaby Gandera, St. Paul (Cal St. Dominguez): “I grew up with a lot of these girls going to middle school and playing rec ball playing in La Mirada. It’s super cool seeing all of them.
I didn’t know baseball was playing until I came in the parking lot. I think its super cool.
I loved playing for my dad (Charles Gandara of St. Paul). That was probably my favorite part of playing high school.”
Jason Ramirez, Cal High coach: “It’s cool man. It was emotional. It was tough with all of the feeling of support. I had to continue and finish what I started. Our girls graduate (Tuesday) and to get the last game in and see these seniors be honored is great.
This is my first-time coaching (softball All-Stars). The double header is a great thing for the area.”
Natalie Craig, La Mirada softball: “It’s a really fun experience to be able to be with a bunch of girls to play at the same level. It’s an honor to represent La Mirada.”
Eric Jeon, La Mirada baseball: “High school went by really too quick for me to explain in words. I’m just thankful for all of the opportunities that have come my way. I’m appreciative of anybody that has supported me along the way.
I’m blessed to take part in this event – The Rotary Classic.
I’m ecstatic about going to college (Columbia). I’ve been blessed to get accepted into the Ivy League school. I never dreamed of playing in the Ivy League.”
Evan Lizarraga, St. Paul: “This is a blessing to getting to compete against other schools. It was a great experience and making connections and meeting new people. Seeing guys where they are going to college and their future plans.
I’m going to Cerritos and going to try to go to UH (University of Hawaii).”